Up against Flight Command, Booked seeks hat trick in Saratoga Special
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Booked defeated four debut-winning 2-year-olds when he galloped to a six-length victory in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes here four weeks ago. On Saturday, Booked will face a new cast of maiden winners – including a son of Flightline who was most impressive on debut – when he runs in the Grade 2, $250,000 Saratoga Special, seeking a third consecutive victory.
The Saratoga Special, run at 6 1/2 furlongs, is one of three stakes on an 11-race card that also includes the Grade 2 Jim Dandy for 3-year-olds on dirt and the Grade 3 Lake George Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf.
Booked, a son of Yaupon, has already made three starts, improving his performance and speed figures each time. After running second in his debut at Churchill Downs, Booked won a maiden race by 1 1/4 lengths at Saratoga in June before scoring an impressive six-length score in the Sanford.
Trainer Steve Asmussen believes there’s more to come from Booked.
“Honestly, Booked’s done well, but there’s improvement in him,” Asmussen said. “With the 2-year-old races at Saratoga, the farther they go, the faster they get.”
Oftentimes a horse who wins the Sanford waits for the Grade 1 Hopeful at meet’s end. But Asmussen said the nine weeks between those races is “too much time for a very laid-back horse.”
Ricardo Santana Jr. rides Booked from post 4.
Flight Command became the first progeny of the 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline to win a race in the U.S., and he did it by 10 lengths in front-running fashion at Aqueduct on June 25. Flight Command, who started from the rail that day, took advantage of a strong break from the gate to establish early position. He also galloped out very well, suggesting that an additional furlong won’t be an issue.
“I thought he galloped out pretty good. He should be able to stretch out,” trainer Rudy Rodriguez said. “It looks to me like he’s going to be a sprinter. Hopefully, I’m wrong.”
Flight Command is drawn on the outside in this six-horse field, which Rodriguez likes because he tried to have Flight Command sit behind horses and take dirt and “he didn’t like it,” Rodriguez said.
“The last couple of times, when Manny [Franco] breezed him, I breezed him in company and I told Manny, ‘Just stay outside,’ ” Rodriguez said.
Franco is riding at Colonial Downs on Saturday, so Flavien Prat has the call.
Twinkle Town, a son of Take Charge Indy trained by Kenny McPeek, was an eye-catching 6 1/4-length winner of his debut going six furlongs in the slop at Churchill on June 27. He took some early pressure, put that away, and drew off emphatically.
“It was ultra-impressive. He did that easy,” McPeek said. “We’re stepping up, but he’s a really good horse. I think he’s going to be better going longer, but it’s still too early to do that.”
Bet On Silver, whom Twinkle Town beat on June 27, came back to win his next start at Ellis Park. Jose Ortiz rides Twinkle Town from post 3.
How’s Al Today, a son of Munnings trained by Riley Mott, broke from the rail on June 4 at Churchill and weaved his way through traffic to win his debut, beating 10 other horses. He will have the rail again Saturday under Luis Saez, and he could be the biggest beneficiary if the pace gets too hot.
Uncle Kef, trained by Kevin Rice, will be making his first start on dirt after a win at Presque Isle and a fifth in the Victoria Stakes at Woodbine – both tracks have synthetic surfaces. Uncle Kef didn’t wear shoes in the Victoria but will wear them on all four feet Saturday.
“Traction is not an issue on Tapeta if they’ve got good feet,” Rice said.
Rice said Uncle Kef raced a little green in the Victoria.
“My rider said he didn’t run until the stretch. He was like a deer in headlights, so I entered him right back,” Rice said.
Rice said Uncle Kef trained on dirt during the spring at Tampa Bay Downs and trained in shoes over the sloppy track at Saratoga on Wednesday and Thursday.
“He got over it well,” Rice said.
Rasasi, a well-beaten fourth in the Sanford after a debut win at Gulfstream Park, completes the field.